Recycling is a big part of our everyday lives. We have learnt to recycle our waste - often glass, paper, cardboard and plastic – and for many of us it has become routine and a way to help our communities in preserving the planet. We are very proud to have a recycled yarn in the Rowan range – Denim Revive.

Originally soured from recycled denim, it is 95% cotton and 5% other fibre. The cotton has been spun from vintage denim which has been through a recycling process and transformed into yarn. The 5% of ‘other fibre’ simply means that when you recycle a fabric there is always a very small amount of fibre that remains below the identifiable level, which is a normal result of the recycling process.

Any linings are removed, along with fastenings such as buttons and zips, seams are cut, and any embellishments are also taken off. The most important fibre qualities to be separated are knitwear, flannel, gabardine, twill, velour and in our case, denim. Multi-coloured garments are put into their own pile and classified as ‘millefiori’ meaning the fusing together of lots of different colours. This typically creates one main colour, a shade of brown with red and white specks which is often then used for over-dying with dark colours such as black and navy.

The next stage of the process is carbonization to eliminate any impurities and then the garment pieces are washed, cut into smaller pieces and then finally introduced to a rag grinder which reduces them to loose fibres. The loose fibres are then ready to be sent to the carding set. During the carding process the loose fibres are mixed and then introduced to a special machine for creating a ‘carding web’. The ‘web’ is cut into small strips ready to be spun. Once spun, the yarn is then ready to be dyed, balled or coned, ready to be knitted into a new creation. In our case, Rowan Denim Revive.

The sheep are all blade-shorn by hand – an artisanal process, requiring dedication, patience and precision. Slower and quieter than mechanical shearing, this highly skilled technique is kind to the sheep, and also produces better wool yields.

Seasons are changing on the island – winters are longer, and spring is later – so Alex and his team shear earlier so that the ewes can be lighter on their feet for lambing. This also means that the wool is cleaner with less dust and dirt picked up through the summer months. The sheep are left with up to 18mm of wool using hand shears, and the lanolin is maintained for added protection and warmth.

The yarn is then spun in Yorkshire by a fourth-generation worsted spinning mill. There is a palette of ten shades inspired by the natural agate stones and indigenous flora and fauna of Pebble Island.

Original article by Arabella Harris

The delicate fibres are dyed before spinning, a gentle process that gives a superior colour result and finished hand-feel. The dyes used are environmentally friendly, so that all of the water employed in the activity can be cleaned and returned to the loch in a circular process, ensuring that the wildlife including brown trout, pink-footed geese and some 35,000 wintering birds for which Loch Leven has become internationally known, can continue to thrive.

This synergy with nature and respect for natural resources is carried through to the sourcing of the cashmere fibre in partnership with nomadic farming communities from Inner Mongolia. Todd & Duncan work with local de-hairers, encourage sustainable herding and grazing practices and promote high animal welfare standards, and in doing so help to preserve a traditional, nomadic way of life.